On the second day at dawn, He Danping went to the summit with her husband to prepare for the Flower Pinning Conference.
The children slept in until the sun was three poles high before getting up. After breakfast, they took Yu Sifeng out to admire the scenery of Shouyang Mountain.
Shouyang Mountain consists of seven peaks of varying sizes, with the largest being Shaoyang Peak. Mingxia Cave, where Xuanji was once confined, is located on Sun Peak to the north, where the terrain is rugged and steep, making it as difficult for ordinary people to climb as ascending to the heavens. Zhenxia Hall, which manages punishments, is also on Sun Peak, overseen by Elder He Yang.
Among the Seven Peaks, Little Yang Peak boasts the most beautiful scenery. Though not as tall and magnificent as the other six peaks, it truly is a haven of lush greenery with exceptionally charming landscapes. Strange and rare creatures often appear there, and behind the mountain, there is a gushing Spiritual Spring surrounded by golden Kunlun Jade Branch Grass Fruit, filling the air with a subtle fragrance.
Chu Yinghong's Yuyang Hall is located on Little Yang Peak.
The other five peaks are Qingyang, Bingyang, Jiyang, Yuexiang, and Zhongyang, each managed by one of the other five Elders in charge of different sub-halls.
The Six Peaks and their six halls tightly surround the tallest Shaoyang Peak, making the Sect as solid as broken gold and extremely well-ordered. Having toured the place, Yu Sifeng couldn't help but express his heartfelt admiration, and he understood why the Shaoyang Sect occupied a leading position among the Five Great Sects.
"The Master used to say, 'Heaven's timing, geographical convenience, and human harmony. Without one, the others are lacking.' The Shaoyang Sect has all three, no wonder its name is known throughout the world."
He spoke haltingly while Linglong, standing beside him, couldn't help but laugh at his strange accent from time to time.
Xuanji pulled Linglong back to prevent her from making Yu Sifeng angry with embarrassment.
"Linglong, stop laughing. Sifeng isn't from the Central Plains; it's already impressive that he can speak like this. We can't even understand half a sentence of the western dialect."
Xuanji looked at Yu Sifeng with a smile and asked, "Sifeng, what is Lize Palace like? Is it fun?"
At the mention of his own Sect, Yu Sifeng involuntarily puffed up his chest.
"Lize Palace is built next to the sea," he said. "Although it doesn't have as many sub-halls as Shaoyang, the members of the palace are united, like one big family. In front of the palace facing the sea is a gigantic White Jade Pavilion. My brothers and I often climb up to watch the sea. Sometimes, we even go down to the sea to catch some strange and peculiar fish and shrimp to enjoy."
His face filled with longing as if recalling beautiful memories, the corners of his lips lifted slightly.
Linglong clapped her hands excitedly, "That sounds so fun! Sifeng, next time take me and Xuanji to your Lize Palace to play, okay? You catch fresh fish and shrimp, and we can feast together! Oh, and we must bring Xiao Liuzi too!"
Yu Sifeng's expression subtly changed, and he shook his head, "It cannot be done. Lize Palace has never allowed women to enter."
Linglong pouted defiantly, "Such a strange rule! I refuse to believe Lize Palace has no female disciples!"
Behind them, Du Minxing interjected, "Indeed, Lize Palace doesn't accept female disciples, and I heard that their rules are extremely strict; ordinary disciples aren't allowed to casually interact with women from the outside world. It seems the Palace Master is a very principled and courteous gentleman. Truly admirable."
"What a bunch of nonsense!" Linglong was indignant, "What kind of gentleman is that, if he looks down on women? I don't believe they never marry or have children!"
"Indeed, once you enter Lize Palace, it means you can never marry in this life."
The plain words from Yu Sifeng stunned everyone present.
Zhong Minyan couldn't help but exclaim in urgency, "Hey, Sifeng! Don't tell me you also...?"
He silently nodded, his gaze involuntarily drifting towards Xuanji, who was absorbed in playing with a Kunlun Jade Branch Grass Fruit in her hand, seemingly not listening. His heart sank, feeling a pang of sorrow.
Zhong Minyan cried out dramatically, "No wonder each one of you has to wear a mask! Is it for this reason? If someone sees your true face, will you be punished? Don't tell me that the first person who sees it has to marry you? Good heavens, I... then I..."
His face turned pale with fright. He was the first person to see Sifeng's true face! How could two men marry each other?!
Yu Sifeng gave him a stern look, "There's no such rule! It's just that..."
It's just that he had lost the privilege to wear the mask anymore. However, he didn't want them to know, didn't want them to worry about him.
He shook his head and smiled, "The person who first saw my real face will be my brother for life."
Zhong Minyan was moved. He gripped Sifeng's hand tightly, "Alright! Sifeng, we are lifelong friends, true brothers!"
Xuanji weakly tugged at Yu Sifeng's sleeve, pointing to her own face, and asked softly, "Then what about me? What about me?"
Linglong fluttered over, all smiles, "Right! Me too! We all saw it!"
Zhong Minyan burst into hearty laughter, "That's easy then! The four of us are friends for life, good... brothers and sisters!"
Everyone laughed for a while until Du Minxing, who had already set up a fire near the Spiritual Spring, was roasting several fish and turned to call them over, "If you've laughed enough, come and eat! You've been chirping all the way here; aren't your throats dry?"
They ran over together and saw that there were only three small fish on the grill. Zhong Minyan said, "How is this little bit enough? Elder Brother, you should have caught a couple more!"
Du Minxing smiled and said, "Earlier, I asked you to catch fish, but you were all slacking off and playing over there. Now you complain there's not enough. Go catch some yourself!"
Linglong slapped the Golden-breaking Sword hanging at her waist and scrunched up her nose, "Just watch us catch some mountain chickens and hares to show you! Xiao Liuzi, let's go!"
Hunting rabbits and mountain chickens with a Golden-breaking Sword? Yu Sifeng shook his head speechlessly and patted her shoulder, "Wait, let me make something first."
Under everyone's watchful eyes, he first broke off a branch from a tree and tested its resilience with his hands. Then, he took out several thick tendons from a small pouch and firmly tied them to the branch. Next, he grabbed a handful of small stones, loaded one, pulled back, aimed at a tree, and let go.
A whoosh sound was heard, and immediately a hole appeared in the tree opposite, the bark splintering to reveal the snow-white trunk inside.
Linglong couldn't help but open her mouth wide in astonishment, unable to close it for a long time.
Yu Sifeng handed over the slingshot he had just made to her with a smile, "This is more convenient to use."
Linglong took it, turned it over and over, and after a long while, she looked up at him with a sweet smile and said softly, "Si Feng, you really know so much. Thank you."
He merely smiled faintly, not minding it. He then broke off a few more branches, shaped them with his dagger, handed one to each person, and they all set off excitedly to the woods to hunt mountain chickens and hares.
"You're about to drop your eyeballs!" Seeing that Linglong had unusually clung to Yu Sifeng like a shadow, her eyes never leaving his face, Zhong Minyan couldn't help feeling a surge of irritation, "So what if he made a slingshot? I can do that too!"
Linglong gave him a dismissive glance, "Go hunt rabbits and stop talking nonsense!"
After saying that, she sneakily ran to Xuanji's side and whispered to her.
"Hey, that Yu Sifeng... he's quite a nice guy," she said.
Xuanji, who was trying to aim a stone at the slingshot's tendons, replied while doing so, "Yeah, Si Feng is a really good person."
"Do you like him too?" Linglong raised an eyebrow.
"I like him," Xuanji admitted.
After saying that and waiting for a while, Linglong remained silent. Xuanji looked up to find her with her arms akimbo, looking dejected.
"What's wrong?" she asked, puzzled.
Linglong stamped her foot and pouted, "Forget it, I'm not going to compete with you over a guy! I'll let you have him!"
She then ran off, but Xuanji quickly caught hold of her, "What are you talking about? I don't understand, what do you mean 'let'?"
Blushing and fidgeting, Linglong finally said, "It's just... since you like him... I'm letting you have him..."
Xuanji stared with round eyes in confusion, "Why would you 'let' him go because I like him? I like you and Sixth Brother too! How can you just 'let' yourself go... so strange..."
Linglong's face brightened up instantly, and she started laughing while roughing up Xuanji's hair, "You really are a little girl! Mother was right, you're an eternal child! Alright, enough of this, let's go hunt rabbits!"
She pulled Xuanji towards where Yu Sifeng was and completely ignored Zhong Minyan, who was so irritated that he threw his slingshot aside and turned back to sit with Elder Brother, refusing to join in their foolery anymore.
"What's wrong?" asked Du Minxing, noticing Zhong Minyan's gloomy demeanor and assuming he had had no luck hunting rabbits.
"It's nothing! I'm just not popular, that's all!" He said coldly while furiously adding branches to the fire.
Not adept in these matters, Du Minxing thought it was just a small quarrel among them and didn't take it seriously. He handed him a fish, and the two of them started eating.